The government radio, La Voz de Nicaragua, said rebels of the Nicaraguan Democratic Force abducted the eight workers at 3 a.m. as they were heading to Nueva Guinea, 110 miles north of Managua.

The radio did not identify the eight people. It is the third time West German ``internationalists`` -- foreigners working as volunteers in Nicaragua to show support for the leftist Sandinista government -- have been kidnapped by the Contras since the start of the U.S.-financed war on the Managua government.